UKIP supporters ‘staying below parapet’ as party musters just one candidate for Cambridge City Council elections

The chairman of UKIP in Cambridge admitted his supporters did not want to “put their heads above the parapet” after the party mustered just a single candidate for the city council elections.

Local chairman Peter Burkinshaw is on the ballot paper in East Chesterton for May 22’s polls but any UKIP supporters in the other 13 wards will be left disappointed.

Mr Burkinshaw said the party did have support in Cambridge but that many of its activists felt they were too old to put themselves forward for election.

UKIP should have had a second candidate, but the party made an administrative error meant the nomination could not be confirmed.

Mr Burkinshaw told the News: “We just couldn’t get enough people to put themselves forward as candidates.

“We have got a lot of ‘background’ support but not many people want to put their heads above the parapet.

“The average age of our supporters is probably higher than it is for some of the other parties and a lot of the people just don’t think they can physically do all the running round with leaflets and knocking on doors.”

When Mr Burkinshaw contested the Cambridge parliamentary seat in 2010 he came fifth, with 1,195 votes.

However, UKIP voters in the city will be able to support their party in the European election held on the same day, which has region-wide candidates.

Julian Huppert, Cambridge’s Liberal Democrat MP, said he was “absolutely not surprised” by UKIP’s performance.

He said: “UKIP really only has two policies – the EU and immigration – and its immigration policy is largely at odds with the way our city celebrates our diverse and inclusive communities.

“And I firmly believe pulling out of Europe would cost us thousands of jobs and leave our country exposed and unprotected.”

UKIP will be hoping to make big gains in council elections in the north and west of Cambridgeshire, and has seven candidates in the South Cambridgeshire District Council polls.